CHIȘINĂU – The Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community held a two-day capacity-building event in Chișinău, the Republic of Moldova on 17 and 18 March 2026, bringing together representatives of Moldova and Ukraine to learn more about how EU railway rules are put into practice.
The event focused on railway safety, technical compatibility between rail systems, and the experience of the Baltic States in aligning with EU standards. Participants also explored lessons from Rail Baltica, one of Europe’s largest railway projects.
This was the first event organised under a framework contract that supports Moldova and Ukraine in carrying out transport reforms in line with the priorities of the Transport Community Treaty. The broader goal is to help these partners move closer to the EU transport market and prepare for deeper integration with European systems.
The event gathered representatives of transport ministries, railway safety authorities, investigation bodies, and railway companies from Moldova and Ukraine.
During the first day, discussions focused on two important EU laws for the rail sector. One sets rules to improve railway safety, while the other helps ensure that trains, infrastructure, and systems can work smoothly together across borders. Experts from the Baltic States shared practical experience on how these rules were introduced, what challenges they faced, and what benefits the reforms brought.
On the second day, participants looked at Rail Baltica as a practical example of how major railway reform and infrastructure development can go hand in hand. Experts presented the project’s main features and explained how common EU technical standards are applied in practice when building a modern cross-border railway.
The event gave participants the opportunity to exchange views, ask practical questions, and reflect on how similar approaches could support railway reform in Moldova and Ukraine.
This capacity-building event is financed by the European Union under the NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2023/452688 grant awarded to the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community. The project supports preparatory activities aimed at facilitating the progressive integration of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine into Transport Community activities.
